To Edmund Jenings

[dateline] [28 August 1782]

[salute] Dr Sir

I have recd your Favour with the Slip from the Gen Adr1 I dread the Sight of the Thing it was so slovenly dressed, but I dont much care about
dress you know. I have also recd your favour with the Extract from our Friend at Nantes,2 and I confess it puzzles me Somewhat. I really Scarcly know what to conclude from
it—whether he has an Inclination to come here or not, if you candidly, between you
and me think he has I will Send a Resignation, and request that he may be appointed.

When he was last here,3 he Said that he had come to look after the Loan, if it was necessary, but that he
had no Commission, (I understood him that he had sunk his Comn. at the time of his
Captivity.) I told him that the Affair of a Loan was finished, that I had made a Contract
with 3 Houses and that every Thing was done and doing in it, that I could do, and
explained to him in detail what was done and doing. He was pleased to say, that it
appeared to be well done and with prudent Caution. This was all that passed. Without
a Commission You see he could do nothing. He never had any other Commission as I understand
it, than to borrow Money. Pray give me your Advice upon this.

Our Friend has reason to observe that he had recd no Letters from me. But it was tenderness
for him which prevented my Writing. While he was in England, one Line from me, falling
by Accident into improper Hands would have excited Jealousies and suspicions against
him there wh would have been very inconvenient to him.

I wish with all my Soul he would agree to act in the Commission for Peace. It would
be an infinite satisfaction to me to correspond with him upon that subject. I have
written him twice lately.4 When he was here he told me that upon the most mature deliberation he had <resigned> declined to act in the Comn for Peace, as I understood him on Account of his ill
health, and I Supposed that the same Reason had determined him to return to America.
I had then no suspicion that he had the least Inclination to be here.

The Courier de L'Europe Says, an Acknowledgement of American Independance is a breach
of the Neutrality.5 This I deny. I think it clear from the Reason of Things, as well as the Practice
of Sovereigns that it is not. But if an Acknowledgment is a Breach, it will { 401 } follow that a Denial is a Breach too; so that by this Doctrine the two Empires, and
four Kingdoms, have pledged their Faith not to deny American Independance. I should
not be sorry to have this Doctrine prevail—But I wish this Point thoroughly examined.
Think of it. If I was not distracted with other Things that are Trifles in Comparison,
I would Seach this Matter through all the Books as you Lawyers express yourselves.
Sovereigns are under a Necessity of following the Powers that be, and cannot pretend
to judge of the right, which belongs exclusively to the Nation and their God—and whenever
a sovereign, denys the Powers that be it Sacrifices the rights and Laws of Nations
and Nature. This has been done—but it is a diplomatic Sin, and the most common Practice
has been otherwise. Let Us keep up this Ball and Set all the litterary Sportsmen in
Europe to play with it—it can do no harm and may do great good. K of France recd Ambassaders
from Cromwell, even when the exiled Family was at his Court. L. 14. recd Ambassader
from K. W. 3. When J. 2 was at st. Germains, acknowledged K of England. The Swiss
were acknowledged by many Nations in Peace with Austria before, they were acknowledged
by the House of Austria. Holland and Portugal were acknowledged by many Powers at
Peace with Spain, before she was acknowledged by Spain. The English are setting up
a Doctrine which will not bear Examination. Let us attack them.

I wish that petit Projet, which has been printed in the Courier du Bas Rhin the Leyden
Gazette and Courier de L'Europe were translated into the English Papers. The Politicians
in England, studiously conceal from their public every Thing which tends to familiarize
the People and the World with the Idea of American Independance. I want to have certain
State Papers which you hint at, inserted in the English Papers and in the Remembrancer
and annual Register.6 This is the way for Fox and his Train to carry their Point, but they dont seem to
know what they are about. They publish every Kind of Trash for Remplissage7 and neglect every Thing that is to the Purpose.

5. This observation appeared in the Courier de l'Europe of 20 Aug. and was made with reference to the appearance in some foreign papers of
JA's A Memorial to the Sovereigns of Europe, [ca. 5–8 July], above. There the editor promised to publish the { 402 } memorial—the “petit project” that JA mentions in the final paragraph—and did so in the Courier of 23 August.